Doha is serving up a heavyweight appetizer to the 2026 season, and yes, the court will be watching as closely as the players.
The Qatar ExxonMobil Open returns with a top-heavy field led by World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and World No. 2 Jannik Sinner, promising high-octane baseline tennis and storylines that stretch from Australian Open hangovers to fresh rivalries.
Stars, Stakes And Seedings
“First of all great to play here, you know, for the first time I do remember I was here some years ago because of a junior tournament, so I have great memories in a way and I’m looking forward to it,”
Jannik Sinner
Doha remains one of just two ATP Tour events in the Middle East, and it offers players a polished week of competition with excellent facilities and a chance to fine-tune before the Sunshine Double in the United States.
With more than 2.3 million euros in prize money on offer, the tournament is a lucrative spot to chase form and ranking points, and top seeds do not treat Doha as merely a warm-up for bigger clay or hard-court swings.
Carlos Alcaraz arrives full of confidence after Melbourne, chasing his next objectives and his 26th tour title, and he does not hide the mind games that come with being the player everyone studies closely.
Alcaraz acknowledged the scrutiny plainly when he said, “A lot of players i know are trying to catch me up, in terms of they study my game, they study how I play, trying to beat me. Trying to challenge me and i have to be ready for them to see where my level is, where my tennis is.”
Draw Paths And Potential Showdowns
The official draw hands Alcaraz an opening match with Arthur Rinderknech and projects a semi-final against Daniil Medvedev should both make their expected runs, a route that tests the Spaniard’s range and tactical patience.
Sinner, making his Doha debut after missing the event last year, begins against Tomas Machac and brings recent Grand Slam momentum; the ATP preview notes he leads their head-to-head 2-0 and is seeded second in the Qatari capital.
Third seed Alexander Bublik and fourth seed Daniil Medvedev sit on opposite sections, with defending champion Andrey Rublev among the contenders trying to prevent an Alcaraz–Sinner final from stealing the headlines.
The seeds list also includes names such as Jakub Mensik, Karen Khachanov and Jiri Lehecka, which means early rounds feature plenty of dangerous clay and hard-court veterans capable of springing an upset on acclimatised stars.
Preparation, Practice And What To Watch
Jannik Sinner has been working on-court in Doha with Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak, who posted “Great practice with the team” and “Thanks Jannik Sinner” on social media, and whose profile offers a useful simulation for bigger opponents.
Majchrzak is ranked 55th in the world and brings a physical, two-handed backhand game that mirrors the kind of consistent depth big-match opponents will test Sinner with during the tournament.
Sinner, still processing the highs and lows of Melbourne, was pragmatic about rhythm and recovery, saying, “We try to get the rhythm back from Australia, heading also into the Sunshine Double after in the US, and then we’ll see.” That mindset shapes his Doha objectives.
There are notable absences too, with Novak Djokovic withdrawing citing fatigue, which shifts the dynamic and creates a clearer path to the final for the current top seeds but does not remove the quality of competition.
Defending champion Andrey Rublev will attempt to go back-to-back in Qatar, while the field overall reflects the tour’s present and future, pairing veterans with rising names and giving fans early evidence of pecking order shifts.
From a fan perspective, Doha’s award as the 2025 ATP 500 Tournament of the Year underlines its player-friendly reputation and the polished experience that keeps stars returning and rivalries sharpening under the desert lights.
First-round matches to watch include Alcaraz vs Rinderknech and Sinner vs Machac, because those fixtures offer immediate tactical contrasts and set the tone for who will be left standing when the draw narrows toward the semis.
Expect the week to answer immediate questions about form, recovery and match readiness; Doha will not only hand out points and paychecks but also reveal who has the early-season legs to chase Grand Slam dreams later this year.
Join the conversation on Facebook.
Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
